Medicare Seen as Battleground Issue in Congressional Races
A Republican plan to remake Medicare, set forth in a budget blueprint devised by Representative Paul D. Ryan, has largely faded from public view. But it is about to come back in a big way as Democrats try to win control of the House by battering Republicans over Medicare in Congressional races around the country.
House Republicans voted overwhelmingly last year for the “Ryan budget,” which would give Medicare beneficiaries a fixed amount of money to buy coverage from competing private health plans.
Democrats are using the Medicare issue to attack Republicans, just as Republicans used it to beat Democrats two years ago.
Mr. Ryan is revising his proposal to address some of the criticism. But Democrats say the changes come too late to help Republicans running for re-election.
full: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/28/us/politics/medicare-looms-over-congressional-races.html?pagewanted=all